Overview
- Utah led 43-0 at halftime after holding Colorado to minus-18 total yards, with five first-half sacks and a safety recorded against the Buffaloes.
- True freshman Byrd Ficklin, starting for injured Devon Dampier, ran for 151 yards with a rushing score and threw two touchdowns with 140 passing yards.
- Utah piled up 587–588 total yards and a season-high 422 rushing yards, including a 58-yard TD by Wayshawn Parker, to become bowl eligible at 6-2.
- Colorado starter Kaidon Salter went 9-of-22 for 37 yards with five sacks before being replaced by Ryan Staub in the fourth quarter; CU finished with 140 total yards.
- Social media mockery and local commentary escalated, with a Denver radio host calling for staff firings and former interim coach Mike Sanford labeling the half worse than his 2022 Utah loss; reports also noted key receivers sidelined for disciplinary reasons.